Awning hold-down anchor



tml-'u United States Patent @dice 3,009,550 Patented Nov. .21, 1961 .3,669,550 AWNING HULD-DWN ANCHGR Harold L. Deamud, 1046 Cleveland St., ceanside, Calif. Filed Dec. 12, 1958, Ser. No., 779,8?9 Claims. (Cl. 19-9{3) The present invention relates generally to anchoring dcvices and more particularly to an awning hold-down anchor.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an awning holddown anchor which is attached to the base of an awning support pole and is anchored in the ground, the stake having means for resisting uprooting or twisting in the normal direction of pull of the awning structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide an awning hold-down anchor which is specifically adapted to hold an awning post at the edge of a concrete slab, the stake having a portion which engages and utilizes the slab as a support means.

Still another object of this invention is `to provide an awning hold-down anchor having an integral hook portion to facilitate its removal.

A further object of this invention is to provide an awning hold-down anchor which is easily driven into the ground at an angle to the strain imposed thereon and can only be removed in one direction, except with great difculty.

Another object of this invention is to provide an awning hold-down anchor which is adapted 'for fabrication from many dilerent materials, so that the choice of material can be according to the dictates of availability and. price considerations, the exact sizes and proportions being matters easily determined to suit particular conditions and needs.

Another object of this invention is to provide an awning hold-down anchor which is practicable and inexpensive to manufacture.

Finally, it is an object to provide an awning hold-down anchor of the aforementioned character which is simple, safe and convenient to use and which will give `generally ethcient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawing which forms a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

FIGURE l is a anchor;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary elevation view of the anchor as Viewed from the lett side of FIGURE l; and

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation View, on a reduced scale, showing the disposition of the anchor in the ground, an awning structure being indicated `fragmentarily in broken line.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specitcation and throughout the views of the drawing.

The anchor comprises a long stake 10, of steel bar stock or the like, having a flat driving end 12 and a ground penetrating point 14% at the other end thereof. Adjacent the driving end 12 is a generally IC-shaped hook member 16 having an attachment portion 18, which is secured longitudinally Vto the stake A by welding, and a post 20 extending upwardly at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the stake, the angle not being critical. The outer end of the post 2i) is bent over to provide a tie bar 22 substantially normal to said post and extending toward the point 14, while tixcd to said tie bar is a generally rectangular -tie plate 24 extending on opposite sides thereof in a plane normal to the axis of said post. The tie perspective View of the complete plate 24 has a pair of spaced bolt holes 26 and a pair of internally threaded portions or nuts 28 are secured to the underside of said tie plate in alignment with said holes. Fixed to the stake 10 substantially midway between the ends and on the side opposite the hook member 16, is a flat stabilizing plate 39 having inwardly tapered edges 32 converging toward the point 14. For simplicity the entire structure of the anchor may be welded together and painted or otherwise treated against corrosion if desired.

The hold-down anchor is specifically designed to hold awning supporting structures such as those used in trailer courts or with individual house trailers. Normally a trailer is situated on a concrete slab, as indicated at 4l) in FIGURE 3, the portion of the slab extending beyond the trailer serving as an outdoor living space or patio which is covered by an awning. Unless permanent anchors are set into the concrete slab to fit a particular awning, the awning supports must be anchored to suitable stakes driven into the ground beyond the slab. Straight pegs and even spiral stakes have been `found to be unsatisfactory, since a strong wind blowing on the awning can apply suilicient force to loosen and pull out such stakes, resulting in damage to the awning.

The present anchor utilizes the concrete slab 40 as a support, the stake i@ being driven at an angle underneath the slab at such a position that the hook member 16 ts over or brackets the edge of the slab when the Istake is fully driven. In this position the tie bar 22 rests on the upper edge surface of the concrete slab 40 with the tie plate spaced above the slab a distance equal to the vertical dimension of the tie bar 22. The tie plate 24 with the nuts 28 thereon are thus suitably positioned and provide a tir-m attachment for the awning support pole 42, which has a standard base plate 44 for securement to said tie plate with suitable tie down bolts 46. Two or more such poles 42 carry one side of an awning 48, the other side being attached directly to the trailer with conventional structure.

In driving the anchor, the projecting driving end 12 is easily accessible to a hammer or mallet. When the point 14 and initial portion of the stake 10 have been driven into the ground, the stabilizing plate 30 starts to enter the ground and holds the stake against twisting, so that the hook member 16 comes into proper alignment on the edge of the slab 40. The eltect of wind on the awning 4S tends to lift the pole 42 in an upward direction, but the anchor cannot be moved since the hook member 16 is engaged on the edge of the slab 40. The only marmer in which the Ianchor can be removed is by a linear pull along the axis of stake 10, the hook member 16 providing a means to pull the stake out when necessary.

While the anchor is illustrated as applied to a concrete slab, it will be evident that a slab is not essential, the anchor having excellent holding power in earth alone and even in sand as for beach awnings. In this case, the stake 10 is driven until the tie plate 24 is generally flush with the ground surface. The stabilizing plate 30 provides a large flat surface substantially normal to the direction of pull of an awning and oiiers considerable resistance to displacement. The stabilizing plate 30 also prevents loosening of the anchor by twisting or rocking motions.

lt will be evident that the ancho-r described herein is far more than a mere peg or stake, yet is a simple unitary structure, easy to use and requiring little storage space. Ground obstruction of the anchor is at a minimum as compared to some anchorage devices having. multiple pegs or retaining bars. In fact in many instances where the concrete slab is flush or nearly flush with the ground, the driving end 12 is driven ompletely out of sight, the hook member 16 facilitating removal of the anchor when necessary without any digging.

The operation of this invention will be clearly comprehended from a consideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the drawing and the above recited objects. It will be obvious that all said objects are amply achieved by this invention.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawing are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

l claim:

1. The combination with an awning support post having a base plate; a trailer supporting slab; an awning holddown anchor including: an elongated stake having a ground-penetrating point at one end, a hook member integral with said stake adjacent to the other end of said stake, and a tie plate secured to said base plate on said awing support post and fixed to said hook member; said tie plate being angularly disposed relative to said stake to lie substantially parallel to and above an edge of the slab when the stake is driven into the lground at a predetermined angle; and said hook member bracketing said edge of said slab.

2. An awning hold-down anchor for use with a trailersupporting slab, comprising: an elongated stakehaving a ground-penetrating point at one end; a hook member integral with said stake and dimensioned to bracket an edge of said trailer-supporting slab; a tie plate adjacent the other end of said stake and xed to said hook member for attachment thereto of an awning support post; said tie plate being angularly disposed relative to said stake to lie substantially parallel to and spaced above the surface of said trailer-supporting slab when the stake is driven into the ground at edge of said trailer-supporting slab, with said hook bracketing the edge thereof; and a generally flat stabilizing plate fixed to said stake intermediate the ends thereof and extending on both sides of the stake; a portion of said post being means to space said tie plate above said surface of Said trailer-supporting slab.

3. An awning hold-down anchor for use with a trailersupporting slab, comprising: an elongated stake having a ground-penetrating point at one end; a hook member integral with said stake adjacent the other end thereof; said hook member having a post portion extending at an angle to said stake; a tie bar integral with said post and substantially normal thereto; said tie bar extending generally toward said point; a tie plate fixed transversely on said tie bar; said tie plate having means for attachment thereto of an awning support post; a portion of said hook member being means to space the tie plate above an edge portion of said trailer-Supporting slab.

4. An awning hold-down anchor, comprising: an elongated stake having a ground-penetrating point at one end; a hook member integral with said stake adjacent the other end thereof; said hook member having a post portion extending at an angle to said stake; a tie bar integral with said post and substantially normal thereto; said tie bar extending generally toward said point; a tie plate `fixed transversely on said tie bar; said tie plate being apertured to receive vertically disposed bolts for attachment thereto of an awning support post; and a generally tiat stabilizing plate fixed to said stake intermediate the ends; said stabilizing plate extending on both sides of said stake and having tapered Sides converging toward said point; and said tie bar being means to space the tie plate above an edge portion of a trailer-supporting slab.

5. An awning `hold-down anchor, comprising: an elongated stake having a ground-penetrating point at the lower end thereof when the stake is disposed as in us at approximately forty-five degrees to the vertical, the upper end constituting a driving end; a stabilizing plate rigidly secured to an intermediate portion of said stake; a hook member having a lower attachment portion rigidly xed to said stake between said stabilizing plate and said driving end and spaced downwardly from the latter, an upright post of the hook member extending to a height well above said driving end, and a tie bar extending horizontally from the upper end of said post in a direction generally away from said driving end; a horizontal tie plate secured to the upper side of said tie bar so that a space is provided below said tie plate on each side of said tie bar; said tie plate having internally threaded portions extending into said space for reception of tie down bolts,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 213,993 Inman Apr. 8, 1879 885,043 Hambay Apr. 21, 1908 1,735,101 lZiebarth Nov. 12, 1929 1,846,650 Olson Feb. 23, 1932 2,784,815 Larson Mar. 12, 1957 2,801,061 Logan July 30, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 51,694 Germany Aug. 11, 1889 

